Pre-Law

Advisor
Charles Reasons, PhD, LLB, JD
Department of Law and Justice
Farrell Hall, room 316
509-963-1779

The attainment of a law degree ordinarily involves a seven-year program—the completion of an undergraduate degree (four years), followed by three years at law school. Before winter quarter of one’s senior year, a future law student should take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and apply to law schools.

Law schools do not require a particular major or courses as a condition for admission. Common undergraduate majors found in the law school population are history, English, economics, business, political science, and philosophy. No specific major will ensure admittance to law school. The most important criteria are your GPA and your score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The pre-law student should seek a course of study, which enhances his or her verbal comprehension and analytical thinking. Critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals is also very helpful.

The law and justice department offers an advisory program designed to assist students in choosing and gaining admission to law schools, with several advisors having law degrees. The pre-law student should carefully plan his or her program in close consultation with an advisor.